The expression, “everyone remembers where they were when they heard that…” has surfaced again. In the past, this usually referred to some indescribable tragedy. If you were old enough, you remember where you were on November 22, 1963 when you first heard that President Kennedy was assassinated, or on January 28th, 1986 when you found out about the horrific Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, or, of course, the darkest day of all: September 11th, 2001.
That is why there is such adulation over another date: May 1st, 2011.  On that brisk Sunday night we heard from our President the joyous news that Osama Bin Laden had been finally tracked down and killed.

Not only was there cheers and jubilation, but this perfectly executed operation by American’s best: SEAL Team Six, with the co-operation of so many other US Intelligent and Military agencies’, under the focused and thoughtful leadership of Barack Obama, brought to the end a sense of loss and anger that had festered in our collective hearts and souls for almost ten years.

Here at Baron Hats there was both a general darkness on 9/11, along with a very personal sense of loss, as we soon discovered that several of our own dear friends had perished during that cowardly attack.

However that all changed on Monday morning, May 2nd, 2011, when we all gathered at our shop and hugged and high-fived each other, and felt a rare sense of victory. A feeling that our great nation was showing its true colors again, its true ability to “take care of business”, and to deal justice as it was meant to be served!

Right away we wondered what we could to honor this great day, and to the great American’s who ended the life of one of the most hated and vilified men in history.

Almost immediately an idea formed. The image of Bin Laden’s picture on an actual “Wanted” poster came into focus. His scruffy beard and soulless eyes looking out at us like so many outlaws of the Old West, and from so many classic American Westerns. The expression: “Wanted Dead Or Alive” had been bandied about many times in the last decade over the airways and in the press when discussing this pusillanimous terrorist. So it wasn’t long before an idea formed: Baron’s had made many of the original hats for the classic TV Western Series “Wanted Dead Or Alive”, so why not make a Limited Edition of this wonderfully "tasty" hat to commemorate the jubilant successful “Operation Geronimo”? Not only make the hat, but donate a portion of the profits to the Navy SEALs’ own special charity, The Navy Seal Foundation, as our way of thanking them for their service, and for their amazing courage.

“Wanted: Dead or Alive” was a popular series that lasted for three seasons from 1958 to 1961, and catapulted the young Steve McQueen into international stardom. It was the story of a Civil War veteran with a sawed-off Winchester (lovingly referred to as the “Mare’s Leg”) who makes a living as a bounty hunter in the Wild West of the 1870s.

“Wanted” had a great deal going for it besides its star. Up to then, the “bounty hunter” was thought of as a sort of “bottom fishing” character who would go to any lengths to “get their man”. He was portrayed as a heartless man who was in it only for the money. However, McQueen brought something special and new to the character. He always showed compassion, and In many episodes, he would give some, if not all, the reward money to the victims, or families in need. This changed forever the concept of the Bounty Hunter, something we can see even today with “Dog: The Bounty Hunter”, in which Dog seems to spend more time giving sodas and cigarettes and joining in prayer with his captures than sending them to jail to collect his reward!

“Wanted” also had a great supporting cast of future stars. Such movie greats as James Coburn (who subsequently worked with McQueen on “The Magnificent Seven”, and “The Great Escape”), Warren Oates, Richard Farnsworth, as well as soon-to-be household name TV stars like De Forest Kelley and Michael Landon made some of their first “splashes” on “Wanted”.

Many great directors got their “chops” wet on this series as well, including Richard Donner, and many of the writers went on to great things, including becoming directors themselves, including Frank Gilroy and Tom Gries.

As a homage to both our great servicemen (and women), and for their special service on 5/1/11, Baron has created a Limited Edition hat inspired by the elegantly simple yet strong-willed hat that Steve McQueen wore as Josh Randall in “Wanted: Dead Or Alive”.

Hat Specs Crown Front: 4 ½ " (finished with hollow at top) Crown Sides: 5 " Crown Back: 4 ½ " (finished with hollow at rear) Brim Width: 3 1/2 " Brim shape hand curls toward front and rear of the hat in the "McQueen" hand-shaped style Hatband: Double row brown braided leather cord attached by 4 metallic bindings                                                                   Hand Crafted in 200XXX 100% Beaver

Each Limited Edition hat will have an engraved leather sweatband with your Limited Edition number, along with our silk-satin lining, our special Lifetime Guarantee, and a custom designed Signed and Numbered Certificate of Authenticity.